Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Report Week 11
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 10, 2025
One of the most anticipated moments of every basketball season is coming up Sunday, when the MHSAA will publish this winter's Boys Basketball District brackets, this season for the first time with all teams seeded based on Michigan Power Ratings (MPR).
MPR is calculated using wins and losses for games played between teams entered into the MHSAA Tournament. Scores of games, margin of victory and location of games are not included in the MPR formula. The final MPR number is 25 percent of the team's winning percentage, plus 50 percent of its opponent's winning percentage, plus 25 percent of its opponent's opponent's winning percentage – the total rewarding both success and strength of schedule.
We're still seeing plenty of movement up and down our statewide MPR lists, and more is sure to come as teams continue to finish off regular-season schedules and play in league tournaments that will conclude over the next seven days (including three we've noted below).
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Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Warren Lincoln 66, Detroit U-D Jesuit 65 It wouldn’t be stunning to see both of these teams playing at Breslin Center next month, and Lincoln (15-4) can build on this boost as it plays for a Division 2 title repeat.
2. East Lansing 62, Lansing Waverly 60 East Lansing (17-1) made a major move toward securing the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue, adding to an earlier 10-point win over the Warriors (15-3) to take a two-game lead with three to play.
3. Marquette 76, Detroit Cass Tech 59 This has to be Marquette’s most significant win on a statewide stage in some time, as the Sentinels (15-2) met Cass Tech (16-2) at the Northern Michigan Showcase at Traverse City St. Francis and showed they’re capable of contending in Division 1.
4. Pewamo-Westphalia 56, Grand Blanc 39 P-W (16-2) opened a three-game week by putting more distance between itself and second-place Fowler in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference and closed it with this big win over the Division 1 Bobcats (11-7).
5. Grand Blanc 71, Flint Powers Catholic 69 Before the loss to P-W noted above, Grand Blanc moved into a tie for first in the Saginaw Valley League by handing Powers (15-1) its only defeat.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (12-6) Despite losing Mr. Basketball candidate Trey McKenney to injury Jan. 9, St. Mary’s has climbed to No. 3 in statewide Division 1 MPR and gone 5-2 since the injury (not counting the team’s loss in the game during which he was injured). The two losses during that time were by one point to East Lansing (17-1) and two points to Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (18-1), and the Eaglets face Brother Rice again Tuesday in a Catholic High School League Bishop Tournament semifinal. The third in-state loss was to Detroit U-D Jesuit, a potential Bishop championship game opponent. St. Mary’s handed Rockford (18-1) its only loss, Wayne Memorial (16-2) one of its two, and also downed Grand Rapids Northview (14-4) and Auburn Hills Avondale (12-7) among others.
Wayne Memorial (16-2) The Zebras have won 12 straight, losing only to St. Mary’s and Birmingham Groves (14-5) both in December. Wayne can clinch a share of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East title against Westland John Glenn on Tuesday and has two wins over Dearborn (15-3) and a first over Belleville (14-4) in league play with that rematch coming up Friday. The Zebras also are coming off a 69-60 win over Traverse City West (14-3) at the Northern Michigan Showcase and will close the regular season with a crossover (and potentially overall KLAA championship game) against a counterpart from the KLAA West.
DIVISION 2
Grand Rapids South Christian (14-4) The Sailors opened this season 1-3 but have only one loss since mid-December – 57-55 to Grand Rapids Northview on Jan. 23. Northview leads the Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold and South Christian is just a game behind, with the rematch scheduled for Feb. 18. The Sailors most recently downed Belleville (14-4) at the Battle in the Igloo at Portage Northern, 58-46, and also owns wins over Pewamo-Westphalia (16-2), Holland Christian (12-6) and Grand Rapids Catholic Central (12-6). A possible District opponent is Grand Rapids Christian (11-7), which defeated South Christian in the season opener. The other losses came to Hudsonville Unity Christian (18-1) and Byron Center (13-6).
Standish-Sterling (16-2) The Panthers have clinched a share of a third-straight league championship, this time in their first season in the Jack Pine Conference Division 1 and thanks to last week’s 75-68 win over second-place Gladwin (15-3). Standish-Sterling is undefeated in league play, with its losses both during the first half of December to Ithaca (14-4) by two points and Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (12-5). The Panthers also have wins over Alcona (14-2) and Pinconning (15-3) and will see the JPC Division 2 champion Feb. 18. Gladwin also is in the District bracket Standish-Sterling will host.
DIVISION 3
Iron Mountain (16-2) The Mountaineers have a half-game lead in the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference East standings thanks to a split with second-place Ishpeming Westwood (14-5); Iron Mountain lost the first meeting 61-56 but won the rematch 58-32. The other loss was in December to Division 1 Marquette (15-2), and there are several strong wins including over Norway (14-4), Kingsford (13-5) and Negaunee (13-5). Iron Mountain has the opportunity to finish the regular season with plenty of momentum as well with rematches against Kingsford and Negaunee and a Feb. 20 meeting at Houghton (16-3) coming up.
McBain (15-1) The Ramblers are rolling again after missing out on the Division 3 championship game last season by a three-point overtime loss to eventual champion Niles Brandywine. Last week’s 79-64 win over Beal City pushed McBain into first place alone in the Highland Conference after the Aggies won their first meeting 57-48 on Dec. 13. McBain also finished a regular-season sweep of Evart (16-3) on Friday and has a second league game coming up against LeRoy Pine River (15-3) after winning the first one big Jan. 17. All 15 of McBain’s wins have come by at least 15 points, but the Ramblers could see Evart again in District play.
DIVISION 4
Battle Creek St. Philip (14-4) The Tigers have equaled last season’s 14 wins and lead the Southern Central Athletic Association West by a half game on Bellevue after finishing second to Bellevue last year. They’ve split their regular-season series, St. Phil winning the first game and Bellevue (11-3) the rematch, and they could see each other again at the District the Tigers are hosting. St. Phil also has a strong win over East Jordan (15-3) and a pair over third-place Colon (13-5) have provided a boost, as did a victory over Burr Oak (11-7) with that rematch coming up. The other losses were to Bronson, Union City (12-5) and Hillsdale Academy (14-4).
Clarkston Everest Collegiate (17-1) The Mountaineers have clinched their first league championship since 2021-22, in the CHSL Intersectional 1, and in a few weeks will attempt to add to a string of four straight District titles. The only loss this season came to Division 3 Jackson Lumen Christi (17-2), and 13 of Everest’s wins were by double digits – with one of the close ones a double-overtime victory over Division 2 Dearborn Divine Child. Everest will play in the CHSL St. Anne Tournament with Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (12-6), Royal Oak Shrine Catholic (9-9) and Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett (8-7) and also could see host Our Lady in District play.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Freeland (15-2) at Bay City John Glenn (16-2) – John Glenn won the first meeting 70-65 on Jan. 14, and the winner of this rematch will be a massive step closer to claiming the Tri-Valley Conference Red title.
Friday – Catholic High School League Bishop Final at Detroit Mercy – Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (18-1), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (11-6), Detroit U-D Jesuit (17-2) and Warren De La Salle Collegiate (6-13) will play in Tuesday semifinals with a chance to advance.
Friday – South Haven (15-2) at Bridgman (12-5) – These two are both 7-1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore with two league games to play and after Bridgman won the first meeting 55-53 in overtime.
Saturday – Charter School Conference Final at Schoolcraft College – Detroit Old Redford (16-1), Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac (14-0), Romulus Summit Academy North (18-2) and Detroit University Prep (15-5) play semifinals Tuesday to reach the final.
Sunday – Detroit Public School League Final at Wayne State – Cass Tech (16-2), Martin Luther King (16-3), Renaissance (12-7) and Central (15-3) play in Thursday semifinals with hopes of advancing to the title game.
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PHOTOS (Top) East Lansing's BJ Windham (1) prepares to pass to a teammate during his team's win over Lansing Waverly. (Middle) Grand Blanc's Isaiah McCree (1) makes a move toward the lane against Flint Powers Catholic. (East Lansing/Waverly photo by John Johnson. Grand Blanc/Powers photo by Terry Lyons.)
'Scott Hancock Court' Celebrates JV Coach's 50 Years Building Up Cheboygan Hoops
By
Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com
December 19, 2025
It’s been a remarkable season so far for the Cheboygan boys basketball players and coaches.
The undefeated varsity Chiefs are looking ahead to the new calendar year and their next opponent, Northern Shores Conference rival Elk Rapids. They also have the District tournament they’ll be hosting in February in their sights.
But Scott Hancock is already looking ahead to the classes of 2035, 2036, 2037 and 2038. And nobody can blame him.
Hancock, a 1976 graduate of Cheboygan, has no intentions of ending his coaching career soon. He’d like to make it long enough to coach his youngest grandson Lincoln Hancock, who is already playing youth basketball in Cheboygan.
And while the Chiefs are finding success this year with the foundation Hancock helped build, the veteran coach can’t help but dream about his youngest grandson playing at Cheboygan High School.
“As a kindergartner he’s in Saturday basketball, and he loves the game,” Hancock said. “God willing, I plan to be there for him.”
Hancock is his 50th season in Cheboygan program. He enjoyed the opportunity to coach his two sons Nick and Brian, both school record holders. He’s also enjoyed coaching his grandson, Landon Gahn, the Chiefs’ junior point guard. Gahn played junior varsity for Hancock his freshman year and moved up to the varsity his sophomore season.
All but two of Hancock’s season were spent as the JV coach. He took the varsity job on an interim basis when current Cheboygan varsity coach, Jason Friday, was playing for the Chiefs in the late 1990s.
On Dec. 9, the Chiefs officially named their home court the Scott Hancock Court. His family was on hand as well as current and former Northern Michigan coaches.
Hancock’s JV team lost that night to Alpena in overtime. The score was 50-50 when the fourth quarter buzzer sounded.
“Looking back, we should have just called the game at the end of regulation,” Hancock admitted. “I got a bunch of great kids this year. and it was a tough loss because it was an overtime loss.”
It was the only loss the Chiefs’ JV team has encountered so far this year. But wins and losses are not the focus of Hancock’s level of the program.
“I don't get too carried away with the wins and losses — I know what I'm there for,” Hancock explained. “I'm there to teach the kids to get them ready for the varsity.”
Hancock is considered by many to be the best coach in Cheboygan history. No counter argument can be found among the current varsity players and their head coach.
“He's the best coach that I've ever had — no bias because he's my grandfather,” acknowledged Gahn, who was found cheering from the bench as the Chiefs secured the victory earlier this week at Kingsley. “He teaches everything about basketball, but he doesn't really preach as much as he demonstrates being a good person. Just looking at him and what he does every day, you can just tell he's the guy that's doing everything right, even though nobody's watching.”
Senior Carson Kiefer helped lead the way for Cheboygan's varsity at Kingsley. He scored 12 points, with two 3-pointers. Kiefer credits Hancock for helping him improve his confidence on the court.
“I think he cares more about the person individually outside of sports,” said Kiefer, who is averaging 16 points per game. “It's fitting that he's a JV basketball coach, helping build players’ skills and confidence.”
Kiefer’s twin brother, Andrew, singled out Hancock’s commitment to the school.
“He's not just a school figure,” said Andrew Kiefer, who is averaging just under 12 points per game. “He is not just the coach. He is a community guy all-around.”
The Chiefs varsity is getting strong contributions from their juniors this season. Nolan Schley is averaging 12 points per game, and he’s second on the team in rebounding. And Gavin Smith is leading the team in rebounds and assists, collecting almost 10 boards and four dishes per game.
The Kiefers, Smith and Schley are part of the reason Friday is not surprised by the 6-0 start and seeking a District title for the first time since 2015. The last time Cheboygan won a conference championship was 2020, playing in the Straits Area Conference during Friday’s first season as boys head coach after previously coaching the girls varsity.
“We knew that our junior and senior classes had some talent in there,” Friday noted. “The boys really want to win a District championship, as well as a conference championship. The boys put a ton of time in the offseason to do everything they can to get over that hump and get both a conference and District championship.”
Cheboygan will host a Division 2 District tournament this season after falling 50-48 in last year’s Division 3 District Final – also at home. The Chiefs face a field including league foes Grayling, Kalkaska and Kingsley as well as Ogemaw Heights and Sault Ste. Marie. Cheboygan topped the Sault 67-43 earlier this year and will play a home-and-home series with Grayling in January.
For now, though, the Chiefs are thinking only about Elk Rapids. Cheboygan started 7-0 last year before falling to the Elks to start the new year.
“We're approaching 7-0 again, so having them coming up here on the schedule, we’re definitely going to be practicing a little harder and watching maybe a little more film and just preparing for the game more seriously,” Gahn said. “Coach Friday was saying last year that he can't remember the last time the team started off 8-0, and it was our eighth game that we lost to Elks. So we're hoping to beat them next time we play.”
The court naming did not come as a surprise to Hancock. He was informed in a meeting with Marty Mix, Cheboygan principal. He thought he had some papers to sign and was surprised his family was waiting in the office.
“He was completely shocked, and Coach Hancock doesn't like attention,” said Friday, who is also the school’s athletic director and was in the notification meeting. “Scott always likes to be in the background, and he handled it quite well.”
And while his signature was placed on the court opening day this year, he points out the Hancock legacy started way before him.
“I'm more proud of the Hancock name on there more than the Scott part of it,” said Hancock, who also serves as the city’s as the parks and recreation director. “Believe me, my dad was a Chief through and through. He passed in 2006. I know he was there in spirit with us looking down.”
Tom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Longtime Cheboygan boys basketball JV coach Scott Hancock sends a starter onto the floor during introductions before a game against Kingsley. (Middle) The Hancock family takes a photo with Scott’s newly-added signature on the floor. From left: Landon Gahn, Brian Hancock, Olwyn Hancock, Scott Hancock, Marjean Hancock, Lincoln Hancock and Nick Hancock. (Below) Scott Hancock shakes hands with a Kingsley assistant coach. (Family photo courtesy of Chris Murdick. Other photos by Tom Spencer.)